Cowboy Cruise Tickets

Gray Dog Press has tickets to the Silver Spur Cowboy Cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene September 24th! And you can win them! Exciting!

Details:

Where: Lake Coeur d'Alene, aboard the Mish-an-Nock

When: September 24, 1-3 pm, boarding at 12:30

Why: Proceeds benefit Because There Is Hope

Value: $45 or $80/couple, which includes a copy of Dawn Nelson's new book, The Rancher

Dawn Nelson's book release party for The Rancher, the third book in her Rancher Series, will be held aboard the Mish-an-Nock, and all guests will receive a copy of the book as part of their cruise. It promises to be a wild party on the lake, with proceeds to benefit Because There Is Hope, a non-profit dedicated to providing lodging and support to cancer patients in Spokane. So buy tickets to support this wonderful organization and have a great time with a good read even if you don't win the free tickets!

How to enter

There are two separate contests here. Both have a deadline of September 16.

What's in a name?

Dawn is busy writing another book, and wants help naming a character. He's 35 years old, six feet tall, 220 pounds, with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a broad chest. He's a cattle buyer by trade, and a feisty supporter of all things ranch-related. He takes no crap from anyone, and isn't going to win any congeniality contests. All you have to do is name this character. (Having a last name will probably help your chances.) Dawn will pick a winner based on her vision for the character, and the winner gets free passage on the Silver Spur Cowboy Cruise, a signed copy of The Rancher, and the associated personal prestige of having named a character in the next book!

Best scene shootout

Shooting a cougar on a first date? Stringing up a human varmint in a bear trap? What's your favorite scene from Dawn's books?

Dawn's novels and story collections have touched thousands of people from all walks of life. Simply pick your favorite scene or story from Cowgirl's Justice, The Colt, A Cowgirl Remembers When, or A Cowgirl Never Forgets, tell us why it's your favorite (in 100 words or less!) and why it affected you so. Maybe it's funny, maybe it made you sob, maybe it just hit home as a true-to-life experience. Whatever the case, write and tell us, and Dawn will help us pick the winner to receive a ticket to the Cowboy Cruise. Remember, 100 words or less!

How to enter

Write your name suggestion or your favorite scene (and why), along with your name, address, phone number, and email address. You can email your entry to us at submissions[at]graydogpress.com. You may enter by posting your entry on our facebook page at facebook.com/graydogpress. You may enter by mail (see our contact page for our address), but your entry must be received by end of business on the deadline date.

See? Simple! And if you need to brush up on your Dawn Nelson knowledge, check out the recently added Dawn Nelson Collection in our online store.

Fine print

One entry per person per contest. You may enter both contests but can only win one. All entries must be received by 5 pm on September 16. You must pick up your ticket(s) from our office no later than 5 pm on September 23rd. If you elect to mail your submission or have us mail you the ticket(s), you understand we are not responsible for the speed of the mail service. Questions? Pose them on our facebook page or send us a tweet.

Spokane Prize for Short Fiction

Gray Dog Press was recently named the publisher of the Spokane Prize for Short Fiction. Formerly published by Eastern Washington University Press, the Spokane Prize is in its 11th year as one of the few book-length short fiction collection contests. More details are coming soon; for now, please check out the info at Willow Springs Editions, which is publishing the 10th Spokane Prize winner, K.L. Cook's Love Songs for the Quarantined this fall.